Windshield wiper mechanism



March 13, 1951 E. E. SIVACEK 2,544,807

WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM Filed OCT,- 31, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. Z7772] \S Z VQCCK.

March 13, 1951 E. E. SIVACEK WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed 001;. 31, 1946 @w Ws m P N .v N Z M m H 1 a m m .V. B N

in the following description and in the appended claims, a preferred butillustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings throughout the several views of which corresponding referencecharacters are used to designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in Iront elevation of a vehicle embodyinga dual windshield wiper system of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in transverse, vertical section taken along the line2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse, vertical section taken along the line3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in rear elevation of a portion of the windshieldwiper system as shown in Figure 4; and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in section, taken along the line 66 ofFigure 2.

It will be appreciated from a complete understanding of the presentinvention that in a generic sense the improvements thereof may beembodied in windshield wipers of various different designs arranged foruse in connection with various different vehicles. A preferred andillustrated application of the invention is in connection with theso-called cowl-mounted dual wiper system.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative vehicle I which is providedwith a usual rearwardly inclined V type windshield, comprising glasssections 9, is provided with a windshield wiper system comprisinggenerally a pair of identical wipers H which are adapted to beoscillated through arcs, of similar size and location with respect toassociated glass sections, by means of a driving motor i3. In theirnormal or parked potions 9. This disposition of the motor l3 brings thebody thereof well up under the cowl 53 and positions all the operatingcranks above the motor and in a relatively out-of-the-way positionimmediately below the lower edge of the glass.

Continuing with the detail of the present assembly, the above-mentioneddisplacement between the axis of the drive shaft3l and the common planeof the wiper shafts I5 is made possible by twisting the cranks 25 sothat their ends are angularly displaced from each other by a sufficientangle (in this case approximately 90 degrees) to permit such ends to bepivotally con- 1 nected to the pins 26 which pivotally interconnectsition as shown in Figure Lthe-two wipers H lie in a substantiallyhorizontal position immediately adjacent the lower margin of theassociated glass sections.

Each wiper H is releasably connected as described below to anoscillatorywiper shaft I5, the two shafts l5 being supported inpredetermined relation to each other and, to the cowl H of the vehicle iby means of swivels i9 and a unitary interconnecting bracket-2|, whichmay and preferably does embodycertain of the features disclosed andclaimed in applicant's copending application, Serial No. 628,159, filedNovember 13, 1945. It likewise will be noted that both of the shafts l5are normal to their associated glass sec-' tions and, though they arenot parallel to each other, they lie in a common plane which intersectsthe glass sections at a right angle. Each wiper shaft 15 carries a crank23 which is pivotally connected by means of anassociated link 25 to thecorresponding end of a crank 21 which is releasably secured, as by astud 33, to the outer end of the output or drive shaft 3| of the wipermotor l3. In the present system, it is of course, desirable that thedrive shaft 3| be disposed in a plane which includes an imaginary linewhich bisects the angle between the two wiper shafts. This equalizesthelateral spacing between the drive shaft and the two wiper shafts andsimplifies the problem of equalizing th arcs ofmovement of the wipershafts. On the other hand, in View of the present improvements, theangular position of the drive shaft,-in said-bisectingplane,

is immaterial. 7 Consequently, and asshown, the motor 13 maybeconveniently mounted with its shaft 3! extending substantially parallelto the center post [0 which separates the two glass secthe links 25 tothe cranks 23 and 27. Thus, the end portions 25a of the cranks aresubstantially normal to the axis 'of drive shaft 3! and the end portions25b are substantially normal to the pins 25 and the wiper shafts !5. Aswill be recognized, oscillatory movements of shaft 3] are transmittedthrough links 25 and cranks 23 and cause corresponding but oppositeoscillatory movements of wiper shafts l5 and of wipers I I.

It will be appreciated that the above twisting of the cranks permits anydesired angle of displacement between the axis of the drive shaft 3| andthe common plane of the wiper shafts l5. In the claims, the termsubstantial angle is used to refer to any angle, either large or small,which is designed into the apparatus, to meet the particular assemblyconditions which are met with in the practice.

It will be appreciated that since the wiper shafts i5 are not parallelto each other and are not parallel to the driving shaft 3|, theoscillatory movements of cranks 21 and 23 cause some rocking movementsbetween these cranks, respectively, and the corresponding ends of thelinks 25. To accommodate these comparatively slight rocking movements,it is preferred to arrange the link and crank connections, comprisingthe previously mentioned pins 26, in the manner shown in Figure 6.Referring to this figure, each outer end of the crank 21 carries arubber grommet 28, the central aperture of which receives the bushing 26carried by the central body portion 26a of the pin 26. The correspondingend of the link 25 is held in place between the headed end of the pin 26and a washer 24 which abuts the corresponding face of the grommet 28.The grommet 28 in turn is held in place between the just-mentionedwasher and the other headed end of the pin 26. The just-mentionedconnection, in addition to being very quiet and free in its operation,readily accommodates the above-mentioned rocking movements between theends of the cranks and the corresponding ends of the links 25. It willbe appreciated, of course, that all of these link to crank connectionsare preferably arranged as described in connection with Figure 6.

The wiper motor l3 may be of any desired type but by way of illustrationit is illustrated as being of the double-piston, suction operated, type,certain features whereof are described and claimed in Bell Patent No.2,354,189, granted July 25, 1944, and in the copending application ofthe present applicant, Serial No. 610,557, filed August 13, 194 As shownthe motor 7 I3 is secured to the unitary bracket 2] by means of a pairof L-shaped mounting brackets 35 which are individually riveted, orotherwise secured, to the unitary bracket as at 31. The leg of eachbracket 35 is connected, by a stud 4|,- toan associated car 39 providedtherefor on the body of the motor I3.

The starting and stopping of motor 13 may, of

unease? coursabecontrolled by knob 15,'which is connected to motor 13 bycable l3; and it will be understood that when knob is operated to stopthe wipers, motor 13 automatically acts-to bring the wipers to rest inthe parked position shown in Figure 1.

As shown, each swivel l9 comprises asleeve "41 within which theassociated shaft I5 is rotatface of the sleeve 41 and are received in anannular groove 5i provided therefor in the shaft l5. The assemblycomprising sleeved! and shaft I5 is secured in place relative "to theassociated cowl 53 by means of a housing formed of inner and outer endpreferably die cast sections 55-and 51. Section 51 may be and preferablyis cast with the sleeve 4'! and shaft-l5 in place soas to fix a relativeposition thereof. Section 55 is removable from the sleeve 41 and is-heldin place thereon by a nut 59. A gasket (it may beand preferably isinterposed between the housing section 55 and the cowl 53 it beingappreciated that the cowl is apertured to accommodate the passage ofsleeve 4'! therethrough and that the'juxtaposed faces of the housingsections -55 and 51 are complemental and are shaped to conform to thecurvature of the cowl.

The assembly comprising the housing section 5'! and the sleeve 47 arerigidly secured to the previously mentioned upwardly extending endportion 29 of the main supporting bracket 2i. More particularly, asshown, each portion 29 is provided witha neck 63 which receives thesleeve 41. The face of each bracket portion 29 abuts :length ,but theuse of the unitary bracket 2! ordinarily -makes such adjustmentunnecessary. .-As shown, theconnections between the wipers I l and theshafts 15 are such as to predetermine the relative rotative positions ofthese elements, the positions, on the windshield, of the arcs ofmovementof the wipers being determined entirely bythe relative lengthsofcranks 23 and 2-7. Alternativelyot course, the connectionsbetween thewipers II and the shafts 15 may be arranged to permit relative rotativeadjustment between these elements, one satisfactory structure foraccomplishing this purpose being described and claimed in applicantscopending application, Serial No, 628,159, filed November 13, 1945.

Although only a single specific embodiment of the invention has beendescribed in detail, it will be appreciated that various modificationsin the form, numbeneand arrangement of the parts may be'made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim;

.1. In a vehicle windshield wiper system, a pair of wiper shafts adaptedto be rockably mounted in laterally spaced relation adjacent thewindshieldof the vehicle, a drive shaft adapted to be rockably mountedwithin the vehicle between the Wiper shaftsmeansadapted tos'upport thewiper shafts with their axes lying in a common plane,

the axis of the drive shaft being so disposed that I it or an-yextension thereof intersects said plane the innerend of the housingsection 5? and the assembly operation is completed by rings :taking thesleeve as indicated at 65. i

The inner end of each shaft I5 is provided with a flattened sectionwhich is received in a noncir'cular opening in the corresponding crank23, the connection being completed by peening over the end of the shaftl5 as indicated at B1,

The end portions 29 are provided with turned c ends, by which they areconnected to the ends of the body portion '68 of the bracket 2|. Tofacilitate the insertion of the shafts !5 through the cowl-openingsduring the assembly of the wiper equipment with the vehicle, at leastone portion 29 is preferably pivotally connected, as by a rivet 69, anda dished spring 70, to the corresponding end of bracket 2 i. As shown,the other end portion 29 is fixed to bracket 2| by its rivet 69.

As shown, the swivels I9 afford the sole supporting connection betweenthe vehicle and the wiper assembly, motor 13 being entirely supported bythe central portion of the bracket 2!. Thus assembly of the wiperequipment with the vehicle involves only the steps of passing the shafts15 through the cowl openings and thereafter applying the externalelements 55-596l of the swivels.

It is to be particularly noted that the above described cowl assemblyinherently locates the 7 two swivel shafts l5 in properly spacedlocation with respect to each other and in respect to the cross arm 2?.Accordingly, since the links 25 and crank 23 are correspondinglydimensioned the two swivel shafts 19 are automatically caused to assumecorresponding rotative positions with respect to each other. It iswithin the purview of the invention to include an adjustment between thecross arm 21 and the wipers II as by making one or both of links 25 ofadjustable at a-substantial angle, andv transmission means connectingsaid drive shaft and said Wiper shafts soithat rocking movementsof thedrive shaft are communicated to and :causecorresponding rockingmovements of saidwip'er shafts, said transmission means comprising acrank carried by and individual to eachof said wiper shafts, crank meanscarried by said driveshaft, and a link fc'rminga connection between eachsaid crank v and said crank means,'eachsaid .li-nk comprising a fiatstrip having connecting means adjacent its ends for connection,-respectively, to the corin laterally spaced relation adjacent the"windshield-of the vehicle and disposed with extensions of their axesintersecting at a fixed angle, a drive shaft adapted to be rockablymounted within the vehicle between the wiper shafts, aunitary mountingbracket supporting said wiper shafts with their axes lying in a commonplane and supporting said drive shaft with its axis in a plane bisectingthe angle between said wiper shafts and intersecting said common planeat a substantial angle, and transmission means connecting said driveshaft and said wiper shafts so that rocking movements of the drive shaftare communicated to and cause corresponding rocking movements of saidwiper Shafts, Said transmission means comprising a crank carried by andindividual to each of said wiper shafts, crank means carried by saiddrive Shaft, and a link forming a connection between each said crank andsaid crank means, each said link comprising a fiat strip havingconnecting means adjacent its ends for pivotal connection, respectively,to the corresponding said crank and said crank means and said link beingtwisted, intermediate said connecting means, through an anglecorresponding to the angle of intersection of the axis of said driveshaft with said common plane.

3. In a vehicle windshield wiper system, a pair of wiper shafts adaptedto be rockably mounted in laterally spaced relation adjacent thewindshield of the vehicle and disposed with extensions of their axesintersecting at a fixed angle, a drive shaft adapted to be rockablymounted within the vehicle between the wiper shafts, a unitary mountingbracket supporting said wiper shafts with their axes lying in a commonplane and supporting said drive shaft with its axis in a plane bisectingthe angle between said wiper shafts and intersecting said common planeat a substantial angle, and transmission means connecting said driveshaft and said wiper shafts so that rocking movements of the drive shaftare communicated to and cause corresponding rocking movements of saidwiper shafts, said transmission means comprising a crank carried by andindividual to each of said wiper shafts, crank means carried by saiddrive shaft, and a link having connecting means at each end thereof andforming a connection between each said crank and said crank means, theconnecting means at the ends of each link being rotated relative to eachother through an angle corresponding to said substantial angle and beingadapted to accommodate the rocking between the ends of the links and thecranks and crank means which results from the fact that the plane inwhich each crank travels is disposed at an angle to the plane in whichthe crank means travels.

4. In a vehicle windshield wiper system, a pair of wiper shafts adaptedto be rockably mounted in laterally spaced relation adjacent the windshield of the vehicle and disposed with extensions of their axesintersecting at a fixed angle, adrive shaft adapted to be rockablymounted within the vehicle between the wiper shafts, a unitary mountingbracket supporting said wiper shafts with their axes lying in a commonplane and supporting said drive shaft with its axis in a plane bisectingthe angle between said wiper shafts and intersecting said common planeat a substantial angle, and transmission means connecting said driveshaft and said wiper shafts so that rocking movements of the drive shaftare communicated to and cause corresponding rocking movements of saidwiper shafts, said transmission means comprising a crank carried by andindividual to each of said wiper shafts, crank means carried by saiddrive shaft, and a link having' connecting means at each end thereof andforming a connection between each said crank and said crank means, theconnecting means at the ends of each link being rotated relative to eachother through an angle corresponding to said substantial angle and beingadapted to accommodate the rocking between the ends of the links and thecranks and crank means which results from the fact that the plane inwhich each crank travels is disposed at an angle to the plane in whichthe crank means travels, each of said connecting means including a pinfixed to the link and a resilient grommet mounted in an aperture in theassociated crank and crank means and rotatably mounted on said pin.

5. In a vehicle wiper system, the combination of a pair of wiper shaftsadapted to be rockably mounted in laterally spaced relation adjacent theWindshield of the vehicle and disposed with extensions of their axesintersecting at a fixed angle, a drive means having a drive shaftrockably mounted within the vehicle between the wiper shafts, a unitarymounting bracket supporting said wiper shafts with their axes in acommon plane and supporting said drive shaft with its axis in a planebisecting the angle between said wiper shafts and intersecting saidcommon plane at a substantial angle, and transmission means comprising apair of cranks fastened to said wiper shafts, a drive crank detachablyfastened to said drive shaft, and a pair of links connecting said pair'of cranks to said drive crank, said drive means being detachable fromsaid unitary mounting bracket without affecting said transmission means.

EMIL E. SIVACEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

